www.francisofassisi.co.uk

Issue 5 - Spring/Summer 2015

Articles include...Recent Events 3

Franky’s 4

Hart of the matter 5

Integrate 7

Finding true friendship 9

Evolution & Faith 10-11

Community Forum 15

and more...

engage

Welcome to ‘engage’ - a magazine produced by St Francis Church for West Bessacarr and beyond.

We think that Bessacarr is a great place to live and one of the key purposes of St Francis Church is to help make it even better. Since our last magazine we have launched several new initiatives to help this happen.

For some time many people at church and in the wider community, have been concerned about the lack of provision for youth in the area. To attempt to go towards meeting this need, in January we launched ‘Franky’s’, a new hang out for youth and young adults. So far Franky’s has gone really well as youth appreciate having a safe and fun place to be. You can read more about it on page 4.

We have also been concerned with just how rushed life is for young families in Bessacarr. To cater for this, we have launched ‘Integrate’ which happens straight after school, so families can be together and engage with fun activities, which also helps build deeper friendships with other families.

You can read about Integrate on page 7.

This edition of ‘engage’ also includes articles about finding true friendship, reconciling faith and evolution, ethics and business and much more.

If you would like to find out more about what happens at St Francis Church why not visit the church at Nostell Place and have a look at our main window poster display.

You could also visit our website (www. francisofassisi.co.uk) or find us on Facebook (St Francis Church, West Bessacarr) for the latest information.

Happy Reading!

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Main Cover Pictures:Front: Pancake party enjoyed by all. Back: Baptismal Service with lots of water!

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Recent events @ St Francis

Pastor Patrick’s visit from Uganda Food Bank fundraising meal

Christmas Fun Morning

Food Bank fundraising meal

Franky’s launch

MU Quiz Memorial Trophy

Carols by Candlelight Pancake Party

Christmas Fun Morning

January Baptisms

Christmas Fun Morning

Nativity

Integrate Riding Lights - Fantastic Acts

In the last ‘engage’ magazine (Issue 4) I wrote about St Francis Church having recognised that Bessacarr would benefit from providing a youth outreach for teens in the area.

Since that time Franky’s Nostell Place has come on in leaps and bounds. At the end of January this year we had our official launch event in the hall and café. There were a whole range of free and fun activities to take part in, including an inflatable pillow-bash, sumo wrestling suits, games console, football game nail painting, crafts and more.

In addition to this, we gave away hundreds of pounds-worth of top quality prizes.

It was great to see the faces of those who won things such as £200 worth of paintballing vouchers

and Doncaster Rovers tickets for four people, as well as many other vouchers for local entertainment centres and food outlets. I’m certain that all who came had a great day!

Moving on from this, Franky’s Nostell Place has now started its

weekly Tuesday 7-9pm slot, with entrance and all the entertainment completely free.

We have the use of the hall at St Francis Church for fun activities such as consoles, film nights, table football and table tennis etc.

We recently had our pancake-day evening games, which involved winning prizes for running and flipping pancakes while putting hats/masks on, decorating a pancake and most flips in a minute.

On another evening there’s been nachos and a game involving sombreros and ponchos! If youth are wanting a rest from all this however, we also have the café where it’s fine to just chill, chat and have some refreshments.

The Franky’s team are a great bunch who are loving getting to know the young

people who are coming in. They are helping to create a safe environment where youth can meet, have fun and form positive community.

Franky’s Nostell Place is now on social media: Please like us on FaceBook and Follow us on Twitter. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email us.

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#frankys | frankysNP@gmail.com

Tell me about your business I own a number of small businesses. The most important one at the moment is called Baby It’s You! It’s an ultrasound service for pregnant women. I have worked in medical imaging for quite a few years, but this is the first time I’ve created a practice where I am providing a service to the public based on my experience with imaging equipment.

Baby It’s You! provides scans for pregnant women to complement the ante-natal care they get in the NHS. We use ultrasound to tell them the sex of their baby and later in the pregnancy, to show them pictures of the baby as it is develops. You can see him or her moving. Soon we’ll provide further services such as early pregnancy scans at seven or eight weeks.

Stereotypically business people are seen as hard-nosed men and women who sometimes cut corners to make extra money. You are a business owner and also a Christian and Christians are often seen as the opposite of this. How do you hold faith and business together?

hartPeople do perceive businessmen as quite sharp and ruthless, but in fact a lot of the business people I know are quite kind and see their role as providing the employment, goods and services that society needs. This aspect of my business is very important to me. In choosing my field of work I was

conditioned by the fact that it must be acceptable to God, so first I must provide a service that does good and provide it in an acceptable way. Then it’s ok to make money.

Yes, Christians are sometimes seen as soft touches and quite frankly I tend to agree with that. As a business owner I quite often take a benign and paternalistic view of my employees and customers. I am there to look after them and to serve them rather than exploit them. It matters to me enormously that I look after my staff and customers, treat them fairly and reward them appropriately.

Is there a danger people will take advantage of you?Yes there is, and it has happened to me many times. My faith tells me, though, that ultimately God will sustain me. I‘m in a position of trust. If I have a choice to make I have to do the right thing, even knowing that people may occasionally take advantage. If I were to do something unfair or plain hard-nosed to get an advantage, that would not be acceptable for my faith, so I simply can’t do it.

So are you ever tempted to cut corners, in terms of tax, ethics or other areas of business life?

of the matter

“Absolutely yes, I’m tempted every day”

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Absolutely yes, I’m tempted every day. When you own a business you are in a position to fiddle the books, pay less tax, take payments in cash and so on, but my faith doesn’t allow me to do any of those things. It matters to me enormously that I operate my business ethically. While it may be true that you can do things as a business owner and people may not know about it, I believe that God does know and He will only bless what I do if it is right in His sight. So yes, sometimes the temptation is there but I don’t yield to it.

So your faith usually informs your ethics and the way you treat your employees. How does it help you with the day-to-day running of the business?It is very important, because when you own a business you are not an employee. When you are an employee you can be sometimes productive and other times not, but you still get your salary at the end of the month. When you are a business owner you have to face all the difficulties and challenges and, contrary to what people may think, you only get money after you have paid everybody else, suppliers, employees and so on. My faith sustains me through hard times, and reassures me that God will provide, and sometimes when situations look difficult I pray about it and I tell God that I trust him. In thirty odd years of being in business He has always honoured that. Ultimately I have seen the rewards.

So have you got any advice for young people who are new to business?Yes, I would say get a job; don’t own a business! But if you are that way inclined and you want to become an entrepreneur, I would say remember that business has to be a win-win situation. I see business as enlightened self-interest. The interests of all people must be served. It was Jesus who said that we should love our neighbour as

http://ridinglights.org

Fantastic (Acts) it was!October saw nearly 170 people cram into St Francis to see a production of ‘Fantastic Acts’ performed by Daniel, Edith and Jonathon from Riding Lights Theatre Company based in York.

With passion, irony and more than a little humour they brought the Book of Acts to life using a set which has been described by many as “A giant Pringle”.

This was part of a national tour which stretched the length and breadth of the UK. Riding Lights are currently touring with their Passion Play “Inheritance” which will include a performance in York Minster on 29th March.

For details of other Ridings Lights shows or their July Summer School, log onto their website at http://ridinglights.org

“Interesting, fantastic

& mind blowing!”“Very thought provoking, -

athletic performances!”

“Really enjoyed it, great fun, Riding Lights at it’s best!”

ourselves. To me that means that we must treat ourselves, our employees and our customers fairly and even the tax-man! So if anyone is going into business, and they are faithful to those principles, then God will honour them, sustain them and they will see their rewards in due season.

Paul Hart

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Some parents relax on comfy sofas drinking filter coffee while other parents are trying to beat their child at basketball, table tennis or table football. Children and adults from all ages and backgrounds are together and along with friendships, a sense of community is being built.

This is a brief description of Integrate, the new community event launched by St Francis Church. The aim of Integrate is summed up by the title. We love to see families integrate with one another and with other families. A small team from St Francis Church helps set up Integrate each month and they are also around to join in the fun. Integrate begins with lots of activities arranged in zones.

Children and adults freely move from zone to zone choosing different sports, games and crafts to join in with. So far the activities have included Wii sports, snooker, football, giant Jenga, Twister, Hama beads, mask making, card making,

play dough and much more! For anyone who feels like a sit down after a busy day there is a chill-out zone where people can help themselves to refreshments. After about 45 minutes everyone comes together for some circle games and party games followed by a short time of interactive thinking about a relevant aspect of life and faith. It has been good fun to see both adults and children joining with the games as well as with our thinking time.

Some adults and children enjoy watching rather than joining in with the circle games and that is absolutely fine. Integrate concludes with a hearty meal in the café for both children and adults together. At the two Integrate events we have had so far, there have been between 40 and 50 guests. In our large hall there is room for more, so you are welcome to give Integrate a try. It is usually on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 3.30pm until 5.15pm. Next few dates are March 24th, April 28th, May19th, June 23rd.

Rev. Richard Heard

integrate

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A warm welcome awaits you!

www.francisofassisi.co.uk

Continues on the second Monday of every month at St Francis Church Café,

Nostell Place, Bessacarr

A two course meal for anyone who could do with getting out of the house to have a hot

meal, combined with a chance to meet and talk with others. There is a nominal charge of £3

per head to help cover costs. If anyone needs a lift, wishes to know more about Meet and Eat, or would like to tell us that they plan to come,

please phone Sarah on 01302 535747.

MEET&EAT

MEET&EATThe first Meet and Eat took place in March 2013. It was a lovely occasion and continues to be so. Those who come enjoy a time of good food, companionship and various activities such as quizzes, songs and indoor games. They also appreciate the welcome they get, from fellow Meet and Eaters and helpers. If you feel you would like a nice meal once a month and a good chat, please join us. We start at 12noon, with the food served at 12.15pm. After the meal, we have some form of entertainment. For example, on April 13th we will be singing favourite hymns, chosen by Meet and Eaters, and on June 8th, there will be one of our quizzes which we do for fun. If this has whetted your appetite, we look forward to seeing you!

Not so PrivateMany people have a surprising inner life. There are people I know who have an amazing creative ability to write or paint well, but they will rarely show their work to others. There are people I know who have fascinating hobbies and interests, but those who they work with have no idea they are involved with such pursuits. Inevitably, there will also be people I know who have huge burdens and issues in their life that they have told no-one about because they fear rejection, judgement and shame.

I wish these people could find the courage to be less private about these things!

If the creative people had confidence to humbly show others their work, they would be encouraged and the people looking at their work would get to see, read or hear something beautiful. If the people with the fascinating hobbies were a bit more open about what they did when not in work, they would add much interest to the lives of others. I think that those experiencing distressing situations in isolation would gain the most by being less private about their life, as sharing issues with people who care helps get an issue into perspective, and opens the door to support.

Being a vicar, people tell me things that few, if anyone else, know about. Even when they are speaking and I am simply listening, I can almost physically see the burdens coming off their shoulders. Recently at a large Christian youth event, a young leader spoke to almost 100 teenagers and youth leaders about the time she needed to see the doctor because of significant anxiety and stress in her life. The appropriate sharing of her struggle was extremely powerful. Her message was basically this: “Anxiety and stress will always be a challenge for me but I will not allow them to stop me doing all that God has called me to do and be.” Many people needed to hear this message and it took an act of courage to let her guard down and be not so private about an aspect of her life.

What about you? Could you take the challenge of being not so private?

Are there things that you are struggling with that you have told nobody about? Try to find someone to talk to. Do you have some hobbies or talents that you don’t really talk about because you don’t

want to be seen to be boastful? Try casually and humbly talking about them. It could be that hearing (or seeing) your hobby or talent brightens up someone’s day!

Rev. Richard Heard

Taken from Richard’s blog “Reflections from Doncaster about life and faith”. Found at https://revrichardheard.wordpress.com

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Finding true friendshipTerry & Christine came to West Bessacarr thirty seven years ago. “This was a friendly environment” said Terry, “with many young families, a developing range of social amenities - and a nature reserve on the doorstep. A perfect place to raise our children”.Over the years they have made many firm friends and seen Nostell Place and Saint Francis Church grow into a community hub with an enviable range of facilities and services.

“Everything we need is here”, Christine said, “and I feel that this will always be our home”.

The couple have a simple philosophy…share everything with one another and be contented with what you have. This is certainly reflected in the range of leisure activities they enjoy together. Terry said “We have so many shared interests we could never be bored. We love being with our four grandchildren, we enjoy going away in our touring caravan, we value the peace and quiet of our allotment and the pleasure of ‘growing your own’. We love going on long walks, and are both avid football fans following the fortunes of Sheffield Wednesday, and we enjoy watching East Enders”!

Terry and Christine began coming to church last September. Christine said “St Francis Church has always been an incidental part of our lives, surprisingly for as long as we have been living here. Our children enjoyed the cubs and brownies, Terry was the secretary of the Bessacarr Badminton Club which met in the church hall and we have supported many fund raising activities and social events. During the past year we noticed how the church had begun reaching out to the wider community in a very positive way and we both began to feel a need to let it be part of our lives. So, one Sunday, quite spontaneously, we decided to seek it out”.

Terry said they were both unsure what to

expect even if this was the right thing to do. However, the welcome they received was so warm and sincere that within minutes they felt completely at ease. “The atmosphere was so calm and inviting” said Terry, “in part because of the lovely background music being played”.

They both appreciated the relaxed informal style of worship and the modern ‘up-beat hymns’ with their lovely vocal and musical accompaniment. Christine said “By the time we took part in the communion I knew I had found what I was hoping for”.

Since then they have both become regular members of the congregation. Terry said “We really look forward to Sunday morning worship with so many friendly people all sharing the same common purpose. We really feel that we belong here now”.

Already they have begun to play an active part in the life of the church. They are willing

volunteers on the pre-service breakfast crew and on the coffee crew afterwards. Terry enjoyed being a reader at the last Christmas Carol Service and he and Christine

were overnight hosts to one of the actors when Riding Lights Theatre Company came to Bessacarr.

Terry said “Christine and I would certainly recommend St Francis Church to any newcomer. It is a vibrant living church with a heart of gold. It serves the needs of many community groups of all ages and differing needs and in return asks for so little, simply that they acknowledge what they have received by giving thanks to God”.

“I knew we had found what I was

hoping for”

Terry & Christine Darker

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evolution & fai h

After years of collecting data the renowned scientist Charles Darwin (1809-1882) finally pub-lished his book ‘On the Origin of Species’ in 1859. His findings were amongst the most impor-tant ever in the sciences. Dar-win’s biological theory showed that all life, including that of hu-mankind, stemmed from natural processes and developed over billions of years.

It is often quickly assumed today that the development of evolutionary theory has put science and the Christian faith at odds and that a person can’t accept evolutionary theory and be a Christian at the same time. Some of this under-standing has been fuelled by certain opposing groups who pit faith and sci-ence against one another in public de-bates. These have sometimes taken the form of heated discussions about what should and shouldn’t be taught as sci-ence in schools and other related is-sues.

Unfortunately, this has often overshad-owed the fact that there are many Christians who seek to recognise both the authority of the Bible and the vast weight of scientific evidence.

With this in mind, it might come as a surprise to some to find that from its

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very beginnings many of those who championed evolutionary theory were very often committed Christians; includ-ed amongst these were two of Darwin’s friends, a vicar who urged him to publish his findings and a Harvard University professor who was instrumental in pro-moting the theory in the United States.

Since then many high profile Christians such as C.S. Lewis and Pope John Paul II have readily demonstrated their ac-ceptance and support of evolutionary theory. Even more recently, Dr Francis Collins, the leader of The National Hu-man Genome Research Project, (an im-portant science project which mapped human genetics), has clearly explained why he finds no contradiction between the acceptance of evolutionary theory

Charles Darwin

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and his Christian faith. Part of Dr Collins’ work has also been to found an organi-sation called BioLogos. This group is made up of committed Christians who are scientists and scholars and seek to show the non-contradictory nature of the Bible and Science. An accessible statement of their core commitments and beliefs along with many other inter-esting articles on faith and evolution can be found at biologos.org.

There are, as is usual, differences of opinion within this subject, but these usually boil down to just two main per-spectives. The first looks very closely at the biblical accounts about creation and the beginnings of humanity. It then seeks to find common occurrences be-tween the relevant parts of Genesis (the first book of the Bible) and what we know about human evolu-tion from science and ar-cheology.

This perspective has led some to believe that the Adam and Eve written about in the Bible might have been Neolithic farmers who came to have a relationship with God. The sec-ond view examines the creation ac-counts and historical family-trees which lead back to Adam and Eve in relation to their genres as ancient Near Eastern

texts. Recognising that there are many different genres in the Bible (i.e. letters, history, poetry, eye-witness accounts etc) and that not all are meant to be taken completely literally, this opinion then seeks to identify what such writings were trying to communicate within their own context.

Whichever is found to be most credible it is clear that for many Christians, both historically and today, there is no great divide between their faith and science and that the one doesn’t have to come at the cost of the other.

If you have any further questions about this subject please feel free to contact us or have a look at these resources:

Lamoureux, D. O. (2009). I Love Jesus & I Accept Evolution. Eugene, Oregon: WIPF & Stock.

Collins, F. (2007). The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. London: Pocket Books.

Alexander, D. (2008). Creation or Evolution: Do We Have to Choose? Oxford: Monarch Books.

Spencer, N. and Alexander, D. (2009). Rescuing Darwin: God and Evolution in Britain Today. London: Theos.

Rev Adam Priestley

(* Background image: Ammonite found near Whitby, estimated age 195 million years old.)

“...for many Christians, both historically and

today, there is no great divide between their faith and science”

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What takes place at St Francis Church & Centre?Church Contact

Ann Gray: Centre Administrator & PCC Secretary - Hall/Room Bookings - please phone (01302) 538487 or email: admin.francisofassisi@gmail.com You could also visit our website (www. francisofassisi.co.uk) or find us on Facebook (St Francis Church, West Bessacarr).

Summary of Regular Activities

At the time of going to press, these are the regular activities and events taking place at the Church and Centre. Many of these are run by the church or by church members. Some are run by outside agencies.

Prayer and Worship: Daily, ................................................................Church Office - 538487

“Prayer Available Here”: Last Saturday of month 11am-12noon .......Church Office - 538487

Sue Ryder Community Drop in: Mondays, .....................................Kerrice Cavanagh 380077

Rainbows & Brownies: Monday evenings, ............................................ Jane Chick - 535363

Rock Choir: Monday evenings: ................................................. Kate Threfall - 01252714276

Meet and Eat Lunch: 2nd Monday monthly, ................................. Sarah Rogerson - 535747

Knit and Natter: 4th Monday monthly, ......................................................Pam Page - 273329

U3A - Mah Jong: 2nd Tuesday monthly, ..............................................Mrs Willy Fry - 538172

Franky’s: Tuesday Evenings. .................................................. Adam Priestley - 07883851700

Integrate: 4th Tuesday early evening ................................................Church Office - 538487

Beavers, Cubs and Scouts: Wednesday and Friday evenings, ...Noreen Sherburn - 535769

Hope Bereavement Drop In: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, ....................Church Office - 538487

St Francis Toddler Group: Wednesday mornings, ............................... Dawn Kwok - 539839

Coffee Morning in the Café: Thursday, .................................................Mary Scott - 533539

Slimming World: Thursday evenings, ................................................................ Sue - 867451

Line Dancing: Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, .............................. Fran Harper - 817124

Mothers’ Union in the Café: 2nd Thursday evening monthly, ................. Jan Laws - 874305

Mothers’ Union Soup lunch: 4th Friday monthly, .......................... Sarah Rogerson - 535747

Mothers’ Union Whist Drive: 1st and 3rd Saturday evenings, ................Pat Hilson - 531282

Café Theo Community Café: Saturday & Wednesday mornings, Marlene Gannon - 530470

Sequence Dancing: 1st and 3rd Saturday evenings, ................... Michael Ingman - 538199

Please contact those in charge of individual groups to confirm details and times of meetings prior to attending for the first time as some details may change.

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29th March Palm SundayAll Age Service starts at 10.30am.

Meet at 10.15am at Toby Carvery to

join in parade with Donkey.

2nd April Maundy Thursday Special Communion Service at

7.30pm

3rd April Good FridayWalk with the Cross at 9.45am

Meditation at the Cross 2pm

4th April Easter Saturday 10.30am to 12.30pm

Easter Fun Morning

(Easter Egg hunt, crafts, games,

prizes and much more!)

Sunday 5th April 10.30amEaster Sunday Celebration Service

Easter @ St Francis

www.francisofassisi.co.uk

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A complimentary breakfast is served from 9.30am to 10.15am every

Sunday morning.

8.30am Service A shorter service for early birds, and

those who like the traditions and beautiful language of the Book of

Common Prayer.

10.30am ServiceA friendly and informal modern style of worship, with groups for children

and young people available.

6pm ServiceFirst Sunday of the month -

A traditional communion service with hymns.

Other Sundays - A quieter reflective service

to end the day.

Join us for breakfast!

Sundays @ St Francis

www.francisofassisi.co.uk

Coming soon

to St Francis!

A new hangout for youth

#frankys | frankysNP@gmail.com

Tuesdays7pm - 9pm

St Francis Church, Nostell Place,

Bessacarr, DN4 7JA

29th March

Palm Sunday. Meet at 10.15am at Toby Carvery to march with Donkey to arrive at Church for 10.30am.

10.15am

3rd April

Meditations at the Cross.

2pm

4th April

Saturday - Easter Fun Morning - (crafts, Easter egg hunts, and lots of fun).

10.30am

5th April

Easter Sunday Celebration

10.30am

26th April

Sponsored Walk in Memory of Julie Homar. To be started by Ben Parkinson.

2pm

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Who are we?We are a group of local residents who take an interest in what is happening in Bessacarr, Cantley and indeed the wider world. For example, the Forum has:• fought a five-year battle to ensure safe

passage over the railway crossing at Manor Farm, taking on Persimmon, DMBC and Network Rail.

• assisted with the campaign to save Bessacarr Community Library.

• negotiated with First Buses to have some buses from Bessacarr going directly into and out of town.

• organised speakers to tell us about the new Finningley And Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme (FARRRS), the new Cultural Quarter and council offices in Doncaster and how planning permission works, to name but a few.

What is the purpose of the Forum?To promote awareness of local matters and provide an environment where these can be discussed.

It is amazing to see people “fired up” in a meeting when they realise that their views are shared by others so there really can be power in numbers.

When did it begin?Originally groups like these were set up by DMBC in 1999 to improve communication between the Council and local communities. After DMBC withdrew funding, this Forum continued independently.

How is it organised? We have a formal constitution, which clearly establishes the boundaries of the Forum. We have a committee of five.

When and where does it meet?We meet at St Francis’ Church, bi-monthly - January, March, May, July, September and November, always on the second

Wednesday of that month. The next meetings are 13th May, and 8th July. Complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits are available from 1.15pm, with meetings starting at 1.30pm and finishing at 3.15pm. People are able to make a small donation to cover the room hire.

How do you choose the topics? We listen to what concerns and interests people, as in the case of First buses. For example, the subject of ‘fracking in the Doncaster area’ was discussed at a recent meeting and we may well arrange a future meeting around this. Other items can be brought up at short notice where it is of immediate interest.

How is the Forum’s role distinct from local councillors or other organisations?One of the Forum’s strengths is that it has the ability to operate independently of any organisation. We are not affiliated or linked to any political, religious or ethnic organisations. The Council’s Stronger Communities Officer is usually present, and we will have a Police Community Officer at future meetings. Our ward councillors usually attend and are willing to stay and chat with you about individual issues at the end of the meeting.

How do you see the future of the Forum?There is a growing group of people who are committed to the Forum’s aims and purpose, and want to see it thrive. Greater community involvement by people not only benefits that community, but also has the potential to make a huge difference.

Phil Midgley, Chair, Bessacarr & Cantley Community Forum

Email: Forum4bandc@aol.com Tel: 0789 995 3478

BESSACARR & CANTLEY COMMUNITY FORUM

16 www.francisofassisi.co.uk

Issue 5 - Spring/Summer 2015

engage

The opinions expressed in ‘engage’ are not necessarily those of the Vicar or the PCC, although we fully accept responsibility for the content, errors and omissions excepted. If you wish to talk about any issues mentioned in ‘engage’, please

contact us via our Centre Admin email address which is admin.francisofassisi@gmail.com - Thank you.

Design by Malcolm Johnston (mjohnston497@btinternet.com)